The management of Dhaka National Medical Institute Hospital (DNMIH) has denied allegations that it was responsible for the death of Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College student Avijit, who died while under treatment at the hospital.
At a press briefing held on Tuesday to protest attacks on the hospital and college following the death, the hospital's director, Professor Brig Gen (Retd) Iffat Ara, made this statement.
She said that although 90% of the issues regarding Avijit’s death were resolved during discussions with Molla College students on the night of the incident, the family and students' failure to inform others led to such occurrences.
In a written statement, Iffat Ara said: "From social media, certain malicious groups are trying to falsely hold the hospital accountable. Such claims are entirely baseless. It has become a trend to blame medical professionals for negligence whenever a patient dies and subject them to harassment."
She strongly condemned the vandalism of the hospital, intimidation of staff, and creating fear among patients, describing these actions as reprehensible.
She demanded strict punishment for those involved.
According to the hospital, the damages caused by the attack on National College amounted to Tk10 crore.
Iffat Ara alleged that 1,000 to 1,500 students from various colleges, led by Dr Mahbubur Rahman Molla College students, vandalized the hospital’s administrative office, outpatient department, emergency department, dental department, and pathology unit.
The attackers also looted cash from the cash counter and damaged the branch of Pubali Bank within the hospital premises, where international and domestic students and patients conduct transactions.
Addressing allegations that Tk10,000 was offered to cover up the death, Deputy Director Dr Md Rezaul Haque clarified: "We waived the ICU bill of Tk36,000 upon the family's request. They didn’t have funds for the ambulance, so we offered Tk10,000 for the ambulance. Later, they managed to arrange one through Anjuman Mofidul Islam. Can such an amount be used to hide a death?"
Responding to accusations about medical test reports not being shown, ICU admission, and coercive signing of the death certificate, he explained that senior staff were not present at the hospital during the incident, only security and emergency doctors.
“When Molla College students arrived, we were not there. Later, we were held hostage and rescued with police and army assistance,” he added.
Regarding the involvement of students from Suhrawardy and Kabi Nazrul Colleges, she mentioned that Molla College students initially came to the hospital in a group of 30-40, followed by students from other colleges expressing solidarity.
Clashes occurred between these groups, but these incidents took place outside the hospital campus.
On the investigation committee’s report and the suspension of doctors, hospital authorities said a probe committee was formed, including representation from Molla College students and a registered dengue specialist from anywhere in the country.
However, after two days, no representatives were provided.
To ensure fair investigation, the duty doctor, Dr Shefa, was temporarily relieved of duty.
